There were leaks that Fitbit would be announcing a new Versa and one of them was that we’d be seeing a Fitbit Versa Lite and it was true! We also have some budget friendly Fitbits in the Inspire line-up.
While I’m bummed that we’re not seeing an upgraded Versa — I was hoping for built-in GPS and more processing speed — but the Versa Lite is a more affordable version of the Versa in more variety of colors.
So what’s the difference between the Versa Lite and the regular Versa? Well, the Lite doesn’t support music storage or music streaming and it doesn’t support guided workouts found on the Versa and Versa Special Edition.
It also doesn’t count floors because the altimeter is absent in the Lite edition. And while it is still waterproof to 50 meters, it doesn’t count swim laps like the other Versas.
Honestly, I never really used the music storage on the Versa. Getting music onto the watch was a pain. Pandora is nice but it requires a monthly subscription and if you’re not into that then why spend more money on the regular version?
I also didn’t use the guided workouts but if you do then of course you’d want to spend a little more and get the Versa or Versa SE. The main differences between the standard Versa and the SE is that the SE supports Fitbit Pay and comes with a fancier strap.
The Versa Lite is a good option I think for many people. It still supports apps that can be downloaded from Fitbit’s app store. It’s still a great fitness tracker and a smartwatch and as a smartwatch the battery can last up to 4 days. Apple can’t touch that but of course Apple supports a lot more apps.
The Versa Lite comes in four different colors: silver with a white band, silver with a lilac band, marina blue with a blue band, and mulberry with a mulberry band.
If you want a black or rose gold Versa, you’ll have to choose the regular or special edition Versa.
The Lite comes in $40 less than the standard Versa and $70 less than the special edition. Hey, if I can save money and still get the features I really need that’s a win in my book.
View the Fitbit Lite on Amazon.
Now if you want to save even more money, Fitbit has a new product, actually a couple new ones, called the Inspire and the Inspire HR. Obviously the Inspire HR includes a heart rate sensor while the Inspire does not.
The Inspire replaces the now discontinued Fitbit Alta and resembles the Charge 3 but has a slimmer look. The Fitbit Zip is also being discontinued. This was the clip on pedometer that was my first pedometer.
What’s nice about the Inspire is that you can also get a clip with it to use it like you would use the Zip.
I might look into it because I can’t wear a watch on my wrist at my workplace. Imagine that considering this blog! Instead I keep my phone in my pocket and let my iPhone count the steps.
Benefits of being able to switch to a clip-on tracker is that you don’t miss those steps when pushing a stroller or a shopping cart. Wrist fitness trackers aren’t able to detect those steps because they rely on arm movements for step counting. I read this complaint quite a bit!
The Inspire was actually inspired by the cheap Fitbit model that a lot of companies gave out to their employees for step counting. Many employers offers discounts off of health insurance for those reaching step goals.
But now regular ole people can purchase the more budget friendly Fitbit but the Inspire HR is packed with more features.
Below is a comparis of the Inspire HR and the Charge 3. They’re very similar but there are some notable differences. Differences are in bold.
Fitbit Inspire HR versus Charge 3 Features:
Fitbit Inspire HR
Optical Heart Rate Sensor
24/7 Heart Rate Monitoring: 1 sec interval recording during workouts; 5 sec interval recording at rest
Saves 7 days of detailed motion data and 30 days of daily totals
3-axis Accelerometer
Vibration Motor
Touchscreen Grayscale OLED
5 Day Battery Life
Water Resistant to 50 Meters (supports swimming)
Cardio Fitness Level
15+ Goal Based Workouts
Resting Heart Rate
Heart Rate Zones
Guided Breathing Sessions
Connected GPS
Automatic Exercise Recognition
Sleep Tracking
Move Reminders
Notifications
View the Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR on Amazon
Charge 3
Optical Heart Rate Sensor
24/7 Heart Rate Monitoring: 1 sec interval recording during workouts; 5 sec interval recording at rest
Saves 7 days of detailed motion data and 30 days of daily totals
3-axis accelerometer
Altimeter
SpO2 Sensor (blood oxygen levels)
Vibration Motor
NFC Chip for Fitbit Pay (in special edition Charge 3 only)
Touchscreen Grayscale OLED
7 Day Battery Life
Water Resistant to 50 Meters (supports swimming)
Cardio Fitness Level
15+ Goal Based Workouts
Resting Heart Rate
Heart Rate Zones
Guided Breathing Sessions
Connected GPS
Automatic Exercise Recognition
Sleep Tracking
Move Reminders
Notifications
Fitbit Today (heart rate, sleep data, etc can be viewed on the watch so you don’t have to use the phone app to see all your data as often)
Supports Limited Apps (weather)
View the Charge 3 on Amazon
While I’m still disappointed that we didn’t get the upgraded Versa this year it is nice to have more options. Fitbit is really trying to entice more people to the Versa, their most popular smartwatch, with a lower price tag. While some features are sacrificed, the fitness features are identical, as well as app support. I also dig that blue color option!
The Inspire is also affordably priced and I like the clip-on option. That would come in handy for a lot of people.
>>Shop at Moosejaw for Your Outdoor Adventures!
